Section 1:1–18

The Word became flesh

In this section the author introduces the subject of his book, Jesus Christ. However, he does not mention Jesus by name until near the end of this section, in 1:17. Instead, he uses figurative language, referring to him as the Word and the light.

Here are other possible section headings:

The Word brought life and light to all people
-or-
Jesus is the Word and the light

Paragraph 1:1–5

In this paragraph John introduced his Gospel by writing about a person whom he calls the Word. He emphasized that from the beginning the Word was with God and that the Word was God. God created everything through the Word. Read Genesis 1:1–5 before you translate this section. It is good to use the same words for “beginning,” “made/created,” and “light” that are used there.

This paragraph has a lot of images in it like a poem and may have been a song or hymn.

1:1a

In the beginning was the Word: This clause indicates that the Word existed before all things. The Word existed before God created the world. There was never a time before the Word existed. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

In the beginning, the Word already was. (Revised English Bible)
-or-
In the beginning, the Word already existed. (God’s Word)

In the beginning: This phrase refers to the time when the world and the whole universe began. In some languages it may be more natural to say what beginning is being referred to. If this is true in your language, here are some ways you could translate this phrase:

At the beginning ⌊of all things⌋
-or-
At the beginning ⌊of the universe/world⌋
-or-
At the beginning ⌊of creation⌋

In some languages it may be natural to translate the noun beginning with a verb. For example:

When all things began (New English Bible)
-or-
When the world first existed

This phrase also appears in Genesis 1:1a. If possible, translate it the same way in both places. If you use footnotes, you may want to refer your readers to Genesis 1:1.

the Word: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Word here means “communication,” “speech” or “message.” This is a title for Jesus Christ. It indicates that God reveals himself in and through Jesus. God expresses himself completely in and through his Word. Jesus shows us what God is like. Hebrews 1:2 states that God has spoken to his people through Jesus.

The Berean Standard Bible indicates that the Word is a title for God by using a capital W. If you do not normally capitalize the names of God, you do not need to use a capital letter here. In some languages you may need to say explicitly that this is a title:

⌊the person named/titled⌋ the Word
-or-
the one who is called the word (Contemporary English Version)

At this point you should avoid stating explicitly that the Word was Jesus Christ.

1:1b

and: The common Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and here introduces some more information about the Word. Some English versions, such as the Good News Translation, do not explicitly translate this word. Introduce this new information in a way that is natural in your language.

the Word was with God: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the Word was with God indicates that there was a close and loving relationship between God and the Word. This was true at the beginning of creation, and it is true still. The verb was does not indicate that the Word has ceased to be with God. It just indicates that it was true in the beginning.

The Greek word translated as with here refers to close relationship. Refer to your translation of this word in Mark 14:49, 2 Corinthians 5:8, and Philemon 13.

Here are some other ways to translate the Word was with God :

the Word was together with God
-or-
the Word was a companion of God
-or-
the Word and God were united together

1:1c

the Word was God: Verse 1:1c is very important to understand the whole of John’s Gospel, and really, the whole of the New Testament. Translate it carefully and check your translation with church leaders and scholars. John indicated that the Word had the essential being of God. The Word had the same nature as God and the same qualities. He has existed forever, from the beginning, as God. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

what God was, the Word was
-or-
the Word was fully God (NET Bible)
-or-
was truly God (Contemporary English Version)

It is important that you communicate the idea the Word was God, not “the Word was a god” or “the Word was divine.” There was and is only one God. The Word is not himself, alone, all of the Godhead. Rather, the Word is a part of the life and essential being of the Godhead.

As in 1:1b, the past tense of the verb was does not indicate that the situation has changed. It does not mean that the Word has ceased to be God.

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